How to Open Command Line Programs on Windows

This wikiHow teaches you how to open a Command Prompt command line window on a Windows PC. You can open Command Prompt from the Start menu or any folder in File Explorer. Besides, the Windows Run feature is also an option.

Table of Contents

Using the Start menu

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Open the Start menu on your computer. Click the Windows icon

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in the lower left corner of the desktop or press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.

You can also click the search or Cortana button next to the Start icon.

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Type cmd or Command Prompt . After opening the Start menu, enter this keyword to search. Command Prompt will appear right at the first result.

Or you can manually find Command Prompt in the Start menu.
The Command Prompt is located in the Windows System folder for Windows 8 & 10, or the Accessories folder under All Programs on Windows 7, Vista & XP.

Use the right-click menu

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Right click on the Start menu icon

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. This button is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. The Power User Menu options will pop up.

Or you can just press ⊞ Win + X on your keyboard to open this menu.
Alternatively, you can right-click any folder to launch Command Prompt from a specific folder.

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Find “Command Prompt” in the right-click menu that appears. The option is usually between “Computer Management” and “Task Manager” in the Power User Menu.

If you right-click a folder instead of the Start menu, the Open command window here option will appear in the right-click menu.

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Click

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Command Prompt from within the right-click menu. A new Command Prompt command line window will appear.

Using the Run tool

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Press the key combination ⊞ Win + R . Hold down the Windows key and then press the “R” button. The “Run” tool window will pop up.

Or you can find and click Run in the Start menu.

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Type cmd into the Run window. This is the abbreviation for the Command Prompt command line program.

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Click OK on the Run window. This command will be executed and open a Command Prompt window

Steps

Using the Start menu

Use the right-click menu

Using the Run tool

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